ASVMEB Complaint 21-96 In re: Melanie Rettler

DOUGLAS A. DUCEY
- GOVERNOR -

VICTORIA WHITMORE
- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR -

ARIZONA STATE VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD
1740 W. ADAMS ST., STE. 4600, PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007
PHONE (602) 364-1-PET (1738) * FAX (602) 364-1039
VETBOARD.AZ.GOV

INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION REPORT

TO: Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board
FROM: Investigative Division
RE: Case: 21-96

Complainant(s): Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board
Respondent(s): Melanie Rettler, D.V.M. (License: 2059)

SUMMARY: APPLICABLE STATUTES AND RULES:
Complaint Received at Board Office: 2/17/21 Laws as Amended August 2018
Board Discussion: 4/21/21 (Lime Green); Rules as Revised

September 2013 (Yellow).

On December 31, 2018, Respondent premises license lapsed. She was sent information
notifying her that the premises license had lapsed and action needed to be taken to renew if

she was going to continue to provide veterinary services from the premises.

On January 31, 2021, Respondent contacted the agency stating that she had attempted
to renew online but could not find a form to print. Respondent was advised that her premises

license had expired 12/31/18 at the previous renewal cycle.

On February 17, 2021, the Board voted to open an investigation due to Respondent

continuing to provide veterinary services through his lapsed premises license.

On February 26, 2021, Respondent renewed her premises license. No fees were necessary

to renew this renewal cycle.

21-96, MELANIE RETTLER, DVM

PROPOSED ‘FINDINGS of FACT’:

1. On February 7, 2017, similarly to 12/31/18, Respondent was sent a lapsed letter to notify her
that her premises license had lapsed. On March 3, 2017, Respondent renewed her premises
license more than a month after her premises license had officially lapsed.

2. On December 31, 2018, Respondent premises license lapsed. She was sent information
notifying her that the premises license had lapsed and action needed to be taken to renew if
she was going to continue to provide veterinary services from the premises.

3. On January 31, 2021, Respondent contacted the agency stating that she had attempted to
renew online but could not find a form to print. Respondent was advised that her premises
license had expired 12/31/18 at the previous renewal cycle.

4, Respondent was sure she sent in the premises renewal with her veterinarian renewal as she
always submit them together. Director Whitmore verified that the agency had received
Respondent's veterinarian renewal payment on 2/27/19 without the veterinary renewal
application. Board staff emailed the veterinary renewal application to Respondent that same
day. Respondent did not mention the premises license renewal. Respondent was unable to
locate the cancel check that would indicate she had submitted and paid for her premises
license renewal that lapsed in 2/1/2018.

5. On February 17, 2021, the Board voted to open an investigation due to Respondent continuing
to provide veterinary services through his lapsed premises license.

6. On February 23, 2021, Respondent was sent a notice of the investigation asking her to respond.

7. On February 26, 2021, Respondent renewed her premises license. No fees were necessary to
renew this renewal cycle.

8. On March 10, 2021, Respondent responded to the open investigation. Respondent stated that
until she attempted to renew her premises license online in January 2021 and spoke with Ms.
Whitmore, she did not know that her premises license had lapsed.

9. Respondent thought she had mailed the premises renewal application with fee to the Board
office in January 2019. She stated that she may have mailed it to the wrong address, misplaced
the document and not mailed it. Respondent relayed that she was under the impression that her
premises license was valid and current.

21-96, MELANIE RETTLER, DVM

The information contained in this report was obtained from the case file, which includes the
complaint, the respondent's response, any consulting veterinarian or witness input, and any
other sources used to gather information for the investigation.

Tracy A. Riendeau, CVT
Investigative Division

March 10, 2021

Melanie Rettler, DVM

|

Arizona Veterinary Examining Board
1740 W. Adams St.

Phoenix, AZ 85007
Dear Board Members;

This letter is in response to your inquiry about the expiration of my premise license for
Healthy Pet at the end of 2018 and my continuation to practice MOURN 2019 and
2020 and to the present on a lapsed premise license.

WhCTOM
Until | tried to renew my license on line January 2021 and then spoke with Virginia

about it, | did not know that my premise license had lapsed.

| mailed or thought | mailed the license application and fee for 2019-2020 at the end of
January 2019 which would have been during the grace period. | may have mailed it to
the wrong address or misplaced it and not mailed it. However, all this time, | thought
the premise license was valid and current

Sincerely,

a&
‘

Melanie Rettler, DVM.